Review of in situ transmission electron microscopy studies of battery materials

doi:10.12028/j.issn.2095-4239.2019.0117

Abstract

Abstract: This review summarizes recent important research progress in the field of in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies of batteries. Although enormous efforts have been devoted to understanding the fundamental electrochemistry of batteries, the structure, morphology and composition evolution of the electrode materials during charging and discharging are still unclear. Furthermore, how to correlate microstructure evolution with battery performance is still challenging. Thus, it is important to develop advanced in situ TEM techniques to monitor structural evolution of electrode materials during cycling in real time and to correlate the structural information with the batteries performance so as to advance our understanding of batteries. In this review, we firstly summarize the experimental techniques of assembling nano batteries under high vacuum condition in TEM to enable battery studies. Then discuss important research progress in the application of in situ techniques in the research of lithium/sodium ion batteries and metal air batteries. Finally, perspectives on future directions on the application of in situ TEM in battery studies are provided. The in situ TEM technology can directly and in real-time observe the microscopic behavior of battery materials in electrochemical reactions, deepen the understanding of the failure behavior of battery materials in charge and discharge, and provide a scientific basis for the design of high-stability batteries and broaden their application fields.

Key words: in situ TEM, lithium ion batteries, metal air batteries, nano batteries, SEI

CLC Number:

TK911

ZHANG Liqiang, TANG Yongfu, LIU Qiunan, SUN Haiming, YANG Tingting, HUANG Jianyu. Review of in situ transmission electron microscopy studies of battery materials[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2019, 8(6): 1050-1061.

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